Ourdoorsman Personality Revealed
Are you a man that loves the outdoors? Have you always gravitated towards nature? Does the thought of being around wildlife and the natural elements spark your sense of adventure?
If you can answer yes to these questions, there’s a good chance you were born to be an outdoorsman.
What is an outdoorsman, exactly?
Many people describe outdoorsman as people who are deeply connected to outdoor sports and recreational activities. Examples include hiking, fishing, hunting, and camping.
While there is no universally agreed upon definition, here are some typical characteristics of this type of man:
- Enjoys being near and around nature
- Likes becoming one with the land
- May or may not hunt
- Gravitates towards waterways, like rivers and lakes
- Energized by fishing, crabbing or water sports
- Excited to take part in backpacking or hiking
- Prefers being around wooded terrain and forests
- Leans towards the adventurous
Think you were born to be an outdoorsman? Check out this list of seven personality traits that are common to this type of guy.
1. You love being in nature
Ever since you were a boy, you’ve always gravitated toward nature. When in the presence of natural elements, you experience a deep sense of inner peace and calm.
When you have free time, like extended weekends or holidays, you greatly prefer spending time on a hiking trail or fishing as opposed to being around lots of people.
2. You like learning new skills
Men who are outdoorsman generally like learning new skills. Activities run the gamut, from learning how to build a survival fire to picking up archery hacks for hunting.
Outdoorsman typically like to use and build upon previously obtained skills. These include enhancing situational awareness as part of mindfulness-based living.
3. Generally rugged personality
If you had to choose a term to describe yourself, you likely would choose rugged. This label is as much of a mindset is it is a lifestyle.
Rugged men typically have strong personality types and a well-developed sense of character. They sound the horn of a certain trumpet and do not apologize for who they are.
4. Drawn to adventure
Most guys who think of themselves as outdoorsman channel an adventurous vibe. They naturally gravitate towards new experiences; particularly those involving the unknown.
Fishing, camping, and hunting are conduits to these experiences. So are hiking and backpacking. A typical belief of many who love the outdoors is: It’s not about the destination but instead, the journey.
5. Sparks primal instincts
There’s something very primal about engaging in fishing and hunting activities. Scientists believe this may be lined to primal instincts, which naturally become activated for the outdoorsman.
In this way, you are reconnected with your ancestral hunter-gatherer roots, which according to the geologic time scale dates back to the later part of the tertiary period; approximately five to seven million years ago.
6. Somewhat introverted
In the psychological sense, guys who gravitate towards outdoor activities tend to be somewhat introverted. This does not mean you don’t like people or being around the presence of others. Instead, you like independent activities or being with a small group. Close friends and family, for example.
You crave this time outdoors because it increases your ability to be self-aware. Because you learn mostly through observation, being outside feeds the essence of your inner core.
7. Nature restores you
The final personality trait of outdoorsman is the reparative benefits that are derived from being near bodies of water or the wilderness.
Most men who engage in activities like camping, fishing, hiking and the like describe their time in nature as restorative.
For example, if spending time hiking a mountain restores your mental and emotional batteries, take it as a sign you were born to be outdoors.
A Word from Guy Counseling
Outdoorsman can come in many different varieties. Some love to hunt while others not so much. More than a few focus their energy around certain activities, like mountain camping or hiking.
One doesn’t need to be an expert fisherman to be an outdoorsman either.
When you consider this term, think of a man that has a well-rounded appreciation for nature-based activities. The key feature is a longing to be one with the land in a way that is deeply engrained into the psyche.
How many of the traits described above applied to you?
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References:
Novello, J. R., & Youssef, Z. I. (1974). Psycho-social studies in general aviation: I. Personality profile of male pilots. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 45, 185-188.
